Minister's Troubles

August 13, 1985

TOKYO — Cabinet Minister Toshio Komoto offered to resign Monday because of financial troubles at the Sanko Steamship Co., which he founded. Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone tried to talk Komoto, 74, into keeping his post of minister without portfolio but agreed to ''keep the letter of resignation for the time being,'' a Komoto aide said. Sanko has had financial problems since it invested heavily in giant oil tankers in the 1970s, when an oversupply of tanker capacity developed. In fiscal 1984 it had a net loss of $289 million. Its losses now amount to $7.07 billion. Sidelight: Kyodo News Service said Sanko will ask a court today to protect the company from creditors under bankruptcy laws.